“Buildergate” Scandal Developing
[UPDATE: HA has news that the court is allowing the suit to push forward]
While Attorney General, Rob McKenna may appear (non-partisan) to have done right in bringing suit against the BIAW for its illegal campaign fundraising, it was a clear partisan move to omit the culpability of Dino Rossi. But it wasn’t enough. And today retired Justices Robert Utter and Faith Ireland are taking a step further.
Based upon our earlier notice, the State Attorney General has already brought suit against a subsidiary of the BIAW for its illegal campaign fundraising that was designed to support Rossi’s candidacy. The actions taken by a Republican Attorney General and a bi-partisan Public Disclosure Commission against the BIAW show that the violations are serious and their prosecution is not a partisan issue, as some have claimed.
However, the Attorney General took no action on our assertion that the BIAW had improperly coordinated with a candidate, and we therefore have brought suit on this claim.
In order for PDC rules to have any teeth there needs to be accountability and it’s disturbing that it takes a private group outside of the enforcement tools of the AG’s office to bring things into the open. Especially when it was very clear Dino Rossi was teaming prior to his announcing to build a war chest of funds to promote his candidacy. And if the AG office and the PDC is going to have any future credibility they should get in front of this. Doing so will have far reaching benefits in Washington State elections as we continually see more and more outside interests promoting candidates with big money.
Washington campaign laws are in place to ensure our elections are fair, that all candidates know what they are facing from their opponents in terms of campaign financing. These rules are there to ensure that special interests cannot buy their way into a legislative process designed to serve and protect the interests of all citizens. Without enforcement our laws are meaningless.
While the BIAW is stinking real bad over these independent expenditures, Dino Rossi is certainly the skunk. But will local media across the state cover this story? It isn’t just a matter of reporting the truth (which should be the #1 mission of the daily news). Local media should make it known to candidates that there is a political price to pay for not following the rules.
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